BEYOND
YOU BUT BELOW CHRIST JESUS
By Pastor Abayomi
Oshin, F.G.C. Baruwa District Youth Minister
“the eyes of your understanding
being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are
the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the
exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the
working of His mighty power which He
worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right
hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and
dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that
which is to come. And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head
over all things to the church” – Eph. 1:18 – 22 (NKJV)
Sometimes ago I was led to chat a young man who is very
active in the church youth and I probed him about his personal life, when he
opened up I realised that his activity in the youth was a facade. Deep down he is hurt and bitter. He felt rejected. At another time I noticed a sad countenance
on a young member of the church and called him to find the root of his sad
countenance he said nobody is listening to him.
People consider him to be too young to contribute to discussions. Again I detected feeling of rejection in
him. In the case of another youth who
had made mistake of pre-marital sex and got a child in the process, she told me
that men call her second-hand and she also feels rejected because the man that
impregnated her went and marry another lady.
When I was appointed newly as the District Youth Minister, I called a
young man and asked him what programme he thinks will benefit the youth
most. He answered me that any programme
touching on success and prosperity will be attractive. I challenged him that he
has been attending such programmes for a while why should that be so attractive
to him and his reply was that he wanted to make a statement to his parents
because he feels rejected.
Besides the feeling of rejection, another feeling that
commonly overwhelm the youth in the church is failure. Many regard themselves as failures and
good-for-nothing because of some expensive mistakes they make sometime in the
journey of their lives. There are many
who are putting their best into their education and yet unable to pass major
examinations. Many of these are very
good in the class but they never make the required grade for any tangible
certificate. Unfortunately, all the counsel
they get from the pulpit is “put in more effort, work harder” and they become
more burdened coming to church instead of their burden being alleviated as
everybody seem to know better than them in relating with them. Many academically sound are jobless and
treated as errand boys in the church instead of being helped and their mates
that are fortunate to be gainfully employed by multinationals are the
candidates for leadership positions in the church.
Feelings of rejection and failure are not the only problems
confronting the youth in the church today, there is also the problem of
loneliness. There are many that are due
for marriage but could not think of it because they are still struggling to get
job and there are the ladies who have no suitors. Unfortunately human philosophy has taken the
place of the Word of life on many pulpits. And some pastors have become
motivational speakers without the fire of Holy Spirit in their messages. The youth are motivated and when they get out
they are frustrated because their enemies seem to be stronger.
I don’t know if you are one of the youth that feels so
burdened and overwhelmed by the challenges of your life. I am called to draw your attention to the
reality of your life in Christ Jesus.
That “we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against
principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age,
against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places”. – Eph.
6:12. That is why your problem seems to
be beyond you. There are those who are
under generational curse and who have not consciously claimed their freedom in
Christ Jesus. There are those who are
paying for the wealth of their forefathers who have satanically drawn the
wealth of their children children yet unborn.
They inherit great fortune but they remain poor. These people only need
to renounce the unprofitable foundation but yet they suffer in ignorance. There are also countless youth who are paying
for the wickedness of their parents and they do not know that they can confess
the sins of their parents and receive forgiveness and live free. Some youth permit spirit spouse to torment
them and make their lives miserable instead of standing their ground in Christ
Jesus, binding and casting out the demon.
Whatever be your situation today as a youth believe that
Jesus has been raised above all the principalities and the problems that have
name. Review your stand in Christ and re-dedicate
yourself if need be. Our salvation
through Christ saves us from every embarrassing situation for the Scripture says, "Whoever believes on Him will not be put
to shame." – Rom. 9:33
Rejection is not peculiar to you we all feel rejected at
some points in life but often time the rejection is perceived rather than
real. Our Lord Jesus Christ even felt
that way when He was dying on the cross.
He said “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” – Mark 15:34. The one you think rejects you may have his or
her own problem that made him/her to behave the way he/she did without knowing
how much it hurts. To overcome
rejection, you need to rise above the opinion of man about you and care mainly
about what God thinks and says about you.
"Can a woman forget her
nursing child, And not have compassion on the son of her womb? Surely they may
forget, Yet I will not forget you....” – Isaiah 49:15. This is the promise of God for His children.
Let me also talk to you who feel inferior to others. This is self rejection. Because you are not so read you allow people
to make you feel small; you are caught in performance trap, you think your
achievement will make you a better person or be accepted by people, well I want
you to read 2 Cor. 10:12 “For we dare not class ourselves or compare
ourselves with those who commend themselves. But they, measuring themselves by
themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise”.
To you who call yourself a failure I say that go and read
the Bible very well and seen how great men have fallen and risen. Moses failed in killing the Egyptian and God
raised him again to fulfil destiny.
David failed when he slept with Uriah’s wife but he repented and was
restored. Rediscover the Lord and love
Him. Seek Him and His help in your
situation and He will turn your shame to glory.
As your District Youth Minister, I have been called to
identify with your pain, pray with you and share with you my knowledge of Jesus
Christ as loving and caring Saviour. He
is calling you today saying "Come to
Me, all you who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” – Matt.
11:28. Though your problem may be beyond you but if
you will sincerely be in Christ, the problems will be below you because Christ
is lifted above them all. Feel free to
call me any time as your youth minister for counselling and/or prayer on 0802
321 4575 and I promise to treat your case as confidential.
